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Cult Epics: Comprehensive Guide To Cult Cinema

Edited by: Nico B
Written by: Various
Released by: Cult Epics/SCB Distributors
Released on: February 6, 2018Purchase From Amazon

Cult Epics’ first foray into print publishing, The Art of Rozz Williams: From Christian Death to Death, met with critical acclaim when it was published last year. The company’s second exercise in publishing, Cult Epics: Comprehensive Guide to Cult Cinema, continues the class act by acting as both a coffee-table offering—at least, for those with families who aren’t offended easily—as well as an introduction to the company’s DVD and Blu-ray releases. Edited by Cult Epics founder Nico B, who also provides an introduction detailing his ascent into the world of film and the founding of his company, the hardback book looks much like an oversized museum piece, replete with innumerable b/w and color posters and still images on thick, high-quality, glossy paper. The layout and design are exquisite.

The book began life as part of an online Indiegogo campaign in March 2017, with initial contributors receiving not only the book but also extras such as the Death Laid an Egg Blu-ray and DVD combo. The book was intended as part of the company’s 25th anniversary, and what a great way to celebrate!

In addition to being beautiful to behold, it’s also a strong journalistic effort featuring some of the biggest names in the cult-review field, including musician and film critic Stephen Thrower (Beyond Terror: The Films of Lucio Fulci, Nightmare USA), producer Nathaniel Thompson (‘Cannibal Apocalypse’ Redux, 2002), and Rock! Shock! Pop! founder Ian Jane. Of course, these are only a few of the contributors; much of the book is written by Michael Den Boer (10kbullets.com), Mark R. Hasan (Rue Morgue Magazine), Rayo Casablanca (6 Sick Hipsters), and Heather Drain (mondoheather.com), among others. The writing itself ranges from average to excellent, though no review is anything less than informative. These reviews not only offer plot descriptions and background information about the individual films covered, but also details concerning extras on the DVD and/or Blu-ray releases. Each review is accompanied by that release’s DVD or BD cover art as well as technical info. Images from the films themselves are included, along with the occasional poster art. Some of the images contain nudity and violence (as with the films they cover), so this is definitely mature reading. The images are sharp and compelling, and the book is handsomely produced.

Cult Epics: Comprehensive Guide to Cult Cinema is divided into sections: Arthouse, Horror, and Erotica, with each section including subsections based on individual filmmakers (Fernando Arrabal, Walerian Borowczyk, Jörg Buttgereit, Tinto Brass, and Radley Metzger) or specific themes (Bettie Page, Vintage Erotic). In addition to the film/DVD/BD reviews, there are also introductions to filmmakers and/or films, as well as interviews with Fernando Arrabal, Walerian Borowczyk, Jörg Buttgereit, and Tinto Brass. The final section is devoted to Nico B and includes subsections about Bunny Yeager and The Claire Sinclair Show.

The goodness doesn’t end with the book and its many and varied articles, however. It also includes a DVD containing trailers or promotional shorts for most of the films covered. A note at the beginning states, “This promotional disc does not necessarily represent the quality of our Blu-ray and DVD releases.” And the quality does indeed vary heavily. The disc begins with a short promotion for Bettie Page Pin Up Queen, then moves into promos or trailers for The Driller Killer, Venus in Furs (1994), The Beast, All Ladies Do It, Pig, The Key, Miranda, Viva la Muerte, The Black Glove, The Elegant Spanking, In a Glass Cage, Death Bed: The Bed That Eats, Frivolous Lola, Bettie Page Dark Angel, American Gothic, School of the Holy Beast, The Guernica Tree, Goto Island of Love, Transgressing, Vintage Erotica Anno 1920, Do It!, Un chant d’amour, Nuit noire, Spiritual Exercises, L’uomo che guarda, Slogan, American Nudes Vol. 1, A Heavenly Melancholy, Population: 1, Here is always somewhere else, Kiss Napoleon Goodbye, The Howl, “the artful penetration of barbara,”Viva, Car Cemetery, Emperor of Peru, Behind Convent Walls, Vintage Lesbian Erotica, Monamour, Kick the Cock, Score, The Lickerish Quartet, Camille 2000, 1334, Hysteria, Zero Killed, Senso 45, The Claire Sinclair Show S8 Bonus, Hot Love, Nekromantik, Nekromantik 2, W.S. Burroughs in the Dreamachine, Stay as You Are, Der Todesking, Angst, Paprika, Schramm, Sin, Exotic Dances of Bettie Page, Mondo Weirdo, Obsessions, The Flesh, Death Laid an Egg, Moon Child, and Frank and Eva. The compilation runs a whopping 2:41:40. There are no chapter breaks between promos/trailers, but this is a small complaint to make about what is essentially a very cool freebie.